jkratz5
Well-Known Member
Last week my brother (Steve), good buddy (Justin) and myself headed to Kansas to chase some Rios around and see if we could complete another leg of the grand slam. We planned the trip on all walk-in hunting ground in KS and I must say this is a great program for hunters. It took some decent planning, working with aerials and guess work (as the gps coordinate are not listed for the areas, along with no roads, etc. on the maps) but hey we got it done.
Upon arrival we were treated to some hellacious storms, hard enough that some of the roads were impassible due to the slime that had developed on them. Anyhow, the weather did breat for about 2 hours, just in time for us to put birds to bed for the evening. We were delighted to hear about a dozen gobblers sound off that night and couldn't wait for the morning. We all knew it was going to be a long, restless night ahead of us knowing all these gobblers were waiting for us, so in order to ensure we got some sound sleep we headed straight for the local establishment for a few cold ones and then headed back to the motel.
Day 1:
We split into two groups and headed off on the two pieces of ground where we had put birds to sleep the previous night. Unfortuantely the 30-40mph winds, rain, and cold weather had the birds completely tight lipped and the first 4 hours came and went without a hint of a bird. About 10:30 we met up and with clearing weather began to plan our late morning and afternoon hunt. As we headed down the road we spotted 5 toms in a cut milo field less than 500yds from where I had been setup and heading straight for my former location (figures). We quickly made the decision to head after the birds, only problem was that they were on the south side of the river and we were on the north, only way across on a walk-in-area is to walk. Well the 5 inches of rain the evening before didn't help much as the water had gone from ankle to thigh deep. Anyhow, we made our way across and quickly got setup. It hadn't been 5 minutes and we could see the birds coming over a small crest in the milo field right at us. The birds it a small dip and we could no longer see them, but it didn't take long until heads started to pop up at 20yds. First 4 were hens, they checked out the situation and then turned and walked off the way they came......a few minutes later still no gobblers. Again the hens appeared about 90yds out and of course 5 long beards were in tow heading away from us. Some quick planning and back into the river we went. Again swinging about 250yds on the birds. As we got setup again we almost instantly could see red heads coming thru the timber. A couple of light purrs and we were in business with some serious strutting. Finally, the birds were in range and we were close enough for me to give it the ol 1.........2...........3........BANG, all three guns rang out and after a miraculous follow-up shot at 80yds on a running, flopping, trying to bail bird by Justin we had 3 toms down for the count. What a moment that was.
Day 1 Evening:
We headed to two new locations for the evening hunt. Justin and I hit a piece of ground that we weren't real sure looked great but had seen a few birds on it earlier in the day. We set JR out in a small pasture with two hens and about 30 minutes later Boss Hawg came around the corner posturing up. At 50 yds I settled the bead on his head and just as I was getting ready to let the 10ga eat I saw 4 more red heads on there way. Thinking that this was 4 more gobblers I held off in order to let Justin get a shot too. That ended up being a mistake as the 4 birds ended up being jakes and they instantly started chasing the tom off and he never presented a shot again. It was quite the treat watching these 5 birds however as they gobbled there heads off for 20 or so minutes before scaling a cliff and heading out of our lives forever. Oh Well, that is how it goes sometines.
Day 2:
Justin and I decided to go back to the Day 1 morning spot and set the blind up near a bird we had put to bed the night before. Well we ended up being late and there was no way we were getting a blind in the field without spooking him. So on to Plan B, lay on the river bank so that we could see just the first 15yds of the field near the highest tree we could find. This ended up being quite the mess but a pretty fun hunt. About 5 minutes after fly down I could see a hen at about 5 yds and headed right down the river bank, if she kept coming the way she was she was going to step right on my head. Well, sure enough she ended up less than 3 feet from my head, somehow not seeing me and kept on going. As I was holding back a laugh a thunderous gobble rang out from about 20yds and 10 seconds later vummmmmmmmmmmmppppppppppppppp.....vummmmmmmmmmmppppppppppppppppp and a tail fan appeared just over the river bank. The only problem here was that the bird wanted to check out exactly where my calling had came from and peeked over the river bank. He was pretty suprised to see me and Justin laying less than 5 yds away and tried to bail on us. As we rose up he got into flight but was quickly whacked out of the air. #4 was down.
The rest of day 2 was a bit slower (mainly because a 4 hour nap occurred mid day and we ended up doing some late scouting before the evening hunts). Anyhow, nothing else took a dirt nap that day but some close encounters and multiple bird spottings took place.
Day 3:
Justin headed off to "the Pasture" our favorite hunting spot on this trip and Steve and I headed to "Death Valley" (300 feet of evalation change, with all the turkey crap on your back really is not fun). Anyhow, Justin kept me updated on what he still calls one of the best turkey hunts he has ever had (no birds went down) but he had 7 toms, a handful of jakes and a field full of hens around him all morning. Meanwhile Steve and I got burned by some hens who stole all of our gobblers and were left sitting there waiting and waiting.
Well the evening rolled around, and after all the birds Justin and seen at "the pasture" earlier in the day we were headed there for the evening hunt. 30 minutes into our sit and Justin says here comes a bunch of birds. Man was he right, birds were strung out all over the cliff in front of us and they couldn't wait to get in the pasture. Some walked, some ran full boar down the cliff, and 4 flew (landing less than 5 yards from us). Well, 2 of those 4 were not so lucky as the boys let the guns bark. Game, Set, Match, we were tagged out in KS. After some celebratory hand shakes on a great weekend we were headed back to town and to the local establishment again to celebrate. The trip was great. Wanted to say thanks to Steve and Justin for heading out there with me (Steve sorry about the 25" of sand caked on your truck). I am looking forward to doing it again next year fellas.
Kratz
Upon arrival we were treated to some hellacious storms, hard enough that some of the roads were impassible due to the slime that had developed on them. Anyhow, the weather did breat for about 2 hours, just in time for us to put birds to bed for the evening. We were delighted to hear about a dozen gobblers sound off that night and couldn't wait for the morning. We all knew it was going to be a long, restless night ahead of us knowing all these gobblers were waiting for us, so in order to ensure we got some sound sleep we headed straight for the local establishment for a few cold ones and then headed back to the motel.
Day 1:
We split into two groups and headed off on the two pieces of ground where we had put birds to sleep the previous night. Unfortuantely the 30-40mph winds, rain, and cold weather had the birds completely tight lipped and the first 4 hours came and went without a hint of a bird. About 10:30 we met up and with clearing weather began to plan our late morning and afternoon hunt. As we headed down the road we spotted 5 toms in a cut milo field less than 500yds from where I had been setup and heading straight for my former location (figures). We quickly made the decision to head after the birds, only problem was that they were on the south side of the river and we were on the north, only way across on a walk-in-area is to walk. Well the 5 inches of rain the evening before didn't help much as the water had gone from ankle to thigh deep. Anyhow, we made our way across and quickly got setup. It hadn't been 5 minutes and we could see the birds coming over a small crest in the milo field right at us. The birds it a small dip and we could no longer see them, but it didn't take long until heads started to pop up at 20yds. First 4 were hens, they checked out the situation and then turned and walked off the way they came......a few minutes later still no gobblers. Again the hens appeared about 90yds out and of course 5 long beards were in tow heading away from us. Some quick planning and back into the river we went. Again swinging about 250yds on the birds. As we got setup again we almost instantly could see red heads coming thru the timber. A couple of light purrs and we were in business with some serious strutting. Finally, the birds were in range and we were close enough for me to give it the ol 1.........2...........3........BANG, all three guns rang out and after a miraculous follow-up shot at 80yds on a running, flopping, trying to bail bird by Justin we had 3 toms down for the count. What a moment that was.
Day 1 Evening:
We headed to two new locations for the evening hunt. Justin and I hit a piece of ground that we weren't real sure looked great but had seen a few birds on it earlier in the day. We set JR out in a small pasture with two hens and about 30 minutes later Boss Hawg came around the corner posturing up. At 50 yds I settled the bead on his head and just as I was getting ready to let the 10ga eat I saw 4 more red heads on there way. Thinking that this was 4 more gobblers I held off in order to let Justin get a shot too. That ended up being a mistake as the 4 birds ended up being jakes and they instantly started chasing the tom off and he never presented a shot again. It was quite the treat watching these 5 birds however as they gobbled there heads off for 20 or so minutes before scaling a cliff and heading out of our lives forever. Oh Well, that is how it goes sometines.
Day 2:
Justin and I decided to go back to the Day 1 morning spot and set the blind up near a bird we had put to bed the night before. Well we ended up being late and there was no way we were getting a blind in the field without spooking him. So on to Plan B, lay on the river bank so that we could see just the first 15yds of the field near the highest tree we could find. This ended up being quite the mess but a pretty fun hunt. About 5 minutes after fly down I could see a hen at about 5 yds and headed right down the river bank, if she kept coming the way she was she was going to step right on my head. Well, sure enough she ended up less than 3 feet from my head, somehow not seeing me and kept on going. As I was holding back a laugh a thunderous gobble rang out from about 20yds and 10 seconds later vummmmmmmmmmmmppppppppppppppp.....vummmmmmmmmmmppppppppppppppppp and a tail fan appeared just over the river bank. The only problem here was that the bird wanted to check out exactly where my calling had came from and peeked over the river bank. He was pretty suprised to see me and Justin laying less than 5 yds away and tried to bail on us. As we rose up he got into flight but was quickly whacked out of the air. #4 was down.
The rest of day 2 was a bit slower (mainly because a 4 hour nap occurred mid day and we ended up doing some late scouting before the evening hunts). Anyhow, nothing else took a dirt nap that day but some close encounters and multiple bird spottings took place.
Day 3:
Justin headed off to "the Pasture" our favorite hunting spot on this trip and Steve and I headed to "Death Valley" (300 feet of evalation change, with all the turkey crap on your back really is not fun). Anyhow, Justin kept me updated on what he still calls one of the best turkey hunts he has ever had (no birds went down) but he had 7 toms, a handful of jakes and a field full of hens around him all morning. Meanwhile Steve and I got burned by some hens who stole all of our gobblers and were left sitting there waiting and waiting.
Well the evening rolled around, and after all the birds Justin and seen at "the pasture" earlier in the day we were headed there for the evening hunt. 30 minutes into our sit and Justin says here comes a bunch of birds. Man was he right, birds were strung out all over the cliff in front of us and they couldn't wait to get in the pasture. Some walked, some ran full boar down the cliff, and 4 flew (landing less than 5 yards from us). Well, 2 of those 4 were not so lucky as the boys let the guns bark. Game, Set, Match, we were tagged out in KS. After some celebratory hand shakes on a great weekend we were headed back to town and to the local establishment again to celebrate. The trip was great. Wanted to say thanks to Steve and Justin for heading out there with me (Steve sorry about the 25" of sand caked on your truck). I am looking forward to doing it again next year fellas.
Kratz
